Raptor Ridge is a historic Oregon winery founded in 1995, long known for consistency and a focus on single-vineyard Pinot Noir. The estate vineyard is LIVE-certified sustainable and their 2023 Raptor Ridge Estate Whole Cluster Pinot Noir is a single-vineyard Pinot from their ridge-top estate vineyard in the the Chehalem Mountains, within in the recently (2020) established Laurelwood District AVA in Oregon’s northern Willamette Valley. 

The Laurelwood District AVA is defined by its iron-rich Missoula Flood loess soil, pale windblown volcanic loess that is well-draining and promotes moderate vine vigor. Pinot Noir from Laurelwood tends to be lighter, more Burgundian in texture, with elegant tannins, bright acidity, and earth-forward notes of forest floor and subtle spice. This bottling is fermented with whole-cluster grapes to add structure, aromatic lift, and a savory, Burgundian texture. Wonderfully pretty, lifted red-fruit Pinot with much more palate structure than the soft nose suggests. Only 370 cases. Elegant, site-driven with structure and earth over ripeness and power.

Why You’ll Love It

• It’s a low-volume, estate, whole-cluster Pinot from a defined AVA with unique soil and elevation, giving you real site identity in a small bottle count.

• The Laurelwood soil delivers a more Burgundian, elegant Pinot with defined tannins, clear acidity, and earth-forward character rather than heavy black fruit.

• Raptor Ridge has producing consistenly stellar, under the radar wines for 30 years. You’re buying into a producer who knows how to translate site into the bottle.
  

How To Serve It

• Serve it cool, around 57–62°F, to keep the lifted red fruit and earthy thread vivid without the tannins feeling grippy.

• Give it a little breathing room in the glass so the macerated strawberry, raspberry, and forest floor notes widen out and the structure softens.

• Pair it with dishes that have a bit of richness or earth: roasted duck, grilled lamb, mushroom risotto, or herb-roasted chicken to match its savory, structured profile.